A daughter's fire ignites her father's buried pride in exile's shadow.
1972, in the south of France, deep in the forest, a family with meager luggage discovers the new camp where they will live. Despite the camp leader's overt paternalism, the Harkis lead a difficult life without real freedom. A life of poverty and guardianship that Leila, the Benamars' eldest daughter, rejects. She is at the age of rebellion, and also of her first love. For her, her father, Saïd, scarred by war and exile, accustomed to giving in, owes nothing to the French who enlisted him in the French army, then failed to protect them in Algeria. Thanks to her, with the help of a peasant couple, he will raise his head and the Benamars will leave the camp for a nearby farm.
Acting
Leïla Bekhti's volcanic restraint as Leila.
Production
Camp's oppressive architecture as invisible prison.
Director
Alain Tasma
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Harkis — Algerians who fought for France — were abandoned to massacre; 30,000+ slaughtered post-independence.
Tasma filmed in actual former Harki camps; Bekhti later became the most visible French-Algerian actress of her generation.
FR
